Electrically-operated recording-instrument for compasses



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1. G. L. JAEGEB.

ELEOTRICALLY OPERATED REGORDING INSTRUMENT FOR GOMPASSES.

No. 533,902. Patented Feb. 12, 1895,

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ELEGTRIGALLY OPERATED RECORDING INSTRUMENT FOR GOMPASSES.

No. 533,902. Patented Feb. 12, 1895.

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G. L. JAEGER. ELEGTRIOALLY OPERATED RECORDING INSTRUMENT FOR GOMPASSES,

No. 533,902. Patented Feb. 12, 1895.

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CHARLES L. JAEGER, OF MAYVVOOD, NElV JERSEY.

ELECTRlCALLY-OPERATED RECORDlNG-INSTRUMENT FOR COMPASSES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 533,902, dated February 12, 1895.

Application filed January 25,1894. Serial No. 497.968. (N0 model.)

gen and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Recording-Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to improvements in electric recording devices and especially to recording mariners compasses of the nature described in United States Patent No. 472,124, granted to me April 5,1892. The recording device described in the said prior patent consists of a deflecting bar or needle, a spiral metallic recording-arm connected with the needle and arranged above a narrow radial conductor, or above a metallic plate forming a conductor, with the interposition in the latter case, of an insulating plate containing a narrow radial slot. The strip of paper, or tape, is fed forward between the recording-arm and the conductor by a suitable mechanism.

In my presentinvcntion I substitute forthe spiral recording-arm revolving in a horizontal plane, a vertically disposed helical c011- ductor, adapted to rotate about its axial line and in close proximity to a straight conductor stationary with reference to the instrument--- the sparks passing at the point of intersection, as described in the prior patent.

The nature of my said invention will be best understood when described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective of a mariners recording compass constructed according to my invention,--the case being omitted. Fig. 2 is a vertical section in the plane 2-2 Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section in the plane 33 Fig. 4. is a detail view. Fig. 5 is a face view of the strip or tape. Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic View illustrating the circuits.

The same letters-and numerals of reference designate the same or corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the letter B designates the compass card attached to the magnetic needle 0, both being supported to turn in a horizontal plane by a cup and gimbal connection with a pivot post a secured at its lower end in a cup shaped block b of hard rubber or other non conducting material screwed into a base plate 0. To the compass card, and needle, is attached a central, vertical tube d of hard rubber or other non-con=- ducting material, which tube serves as a base for the conductor D. This conductor is preferably made of aluminum on account of its lightness, and is in the form of a thin fiat or round wire wound helically around the base. It is attached to the tubular base at the top by a conducting ring or collar e, while its lower end is fastened either by a small screw, or in any usual manner, to the said tubular base (I. The wire forming the conductor makes substantially one complete convolu tion about the tubular base.

Adjacent and parallel to the tubular base 61 is arranged a straight, vertical conductor E, stationary with reference to the instrument, and extending throughout the axial length of the helix. Its edge opposite the base (Z is moderately sharp, as is seen in Fig. 3.

The conductor E is disposed at a distance from the helical conductor favorable to the passage of a spark, and is secured at top and bottom in non-conducting platesjj.

The strip of paper, or tape, P upon which the record'is received, is fed between the helical conductor D and the straight conductor E by a suitable clock movement H. The tape is carried on the supply roll F (Fig. 3) and conducted by suitable guide-rolls f and f;- the latter roll being constructed to pull the tape along at a given and uniform rate of speed. To this end it is provided with peripheral teeth g (see Fig. 4) engaging with a line of perforations g (see Fig. 5) formed near one edge of the tape. The tape after leaving rollf' is taken up by a compensating friction roll G of any usual construction.

Electrical connection is made with a suitable induction coil I, (Fig. 6,) as follows: Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 6, one wire 10 from the induction coil I is connected to a binding post h, from which a wire 12 is led near to the conducting collar or ring 6 at the top of the tubular base (1. The second wire 11 from the induction coil is connected with the binding post h,'fro1n which latter connection is made with the conductor E by wire 13 secured by means of the binding screw e to said conductor. It is now evident that a spark will pass from the particular point of the helical recording conductor which is opposite to the conductor E, to said conductor and will puncture the moving strip.

The tape P, (Fig. 5,) is divided by suitable horizontal lines corresponding to the points of the compass and sub-divided by vertical lines indicating the time.

The recording conductor is so arranged with respect to the compass card that its upper end, when opposite the stationary conductor, corresponds to north on the card. The central point of the recording conductor will therefore indicate south and its extreme lower end would indicate north again, but by making the helix slightly less than one convolution, this indication will be omitted.

In general, conductor D being bent through substantially three hundred and sixty degress, each degree thereof will correspond to a degree on the compass card and willpuncture the tape accordingly.

The magnetic needle with its helix remaining substantially in one particular position, the line of perforations made by the sparks changes according to the direction in which the vessel is moving. For instance, if the Vessel is moving in a northerly direction, the line of perforations will be quite near to the upper margin of the tape (Fig. Should the vessel change her course and move south, the line of perforations would move toward the center of the tape and remain there until another change in direction was made, and so on. A clear, indelible record is thus obtained without interfering in the least with the magnetic needle, since the helix does not touch the tape.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a tape illustrating theline ofperforations 20 formed by the sparks and indicating the course of the vessel.

For simultaneously recording the course and speed of the vessel, a suitable electric log L (Fig. 6) may be interpolated in the circuit. To this end a wire 14 leading from one binding post of the log is attached to a binding post 7L2 on the compass which latter post is placed in connection with a binding-screw 7&3 by a wire 15, and from which latter is conducted a wire 16, (Fi 8,) and placed in connection with a pointed contact i arranged opposite to the lower end of the conductor. The second wire 17 from the log is connected with the circuit of the induction coil. The ensuing record is indicated by the punctures s at the lower edge of the strip Pin Fig. 5. It is evident that the record of the ships course can be produced in like manner by holding the conductor D stationary and attaching the conductor E to the compass card.

While I have herein described my improvepass, they can equally well be embodied in other instruments for recording deflections. Therefore I do not wish to restrict myself to their use in ships compasses.

In place of a clock movement for feedingthe tape P between the conductors D and E, and indicating the time by the perforations g and transverse lines, the tape may be drawn forward by any suitable motor and the time indicated by electrically perforating the strip at regular intervals. Such an arrangement; I have illustrated in Fig. 6, where C is a chronometer constructed to actuate a contact breaker L which maybe similar in construction to the log L. The contact breaker is connected by wire 19 with wire 10, and by wire 18 with a contact point 8 arranged opposite to the upper portion of the conductor E. At given intervals the current perforates the upper edge of the tape, which perforations indicate the time.

In general it is to be understood that a chart may be substituted for the tape.

hat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a recording device, the combination of a helical conductor, a conductor arranged adjacent to the same, means for feedinga tape between the two, and electrical connections, substantially as described.

2. In a recording device, the combination of a helical conductor extending through an angle of substantially three hundred and sixty degrees and mounted to rotate about its axial line, a stationary conductor arranged adjacent to the same, and extending throughout the axial length of the helix, means for feeding a tape between the two, and electrical connections, substantially as described.

3. In a recording compass, the combination of a helical recording conductor participating in the movements of the needle, a stationary conductor arranged adjacent to the same, means for feeding a tape between the two and electrical connections, substantially as described.

4. In a recording compass, the combination with the compass card and the needle, of a nonconducting base suspended from the same and participating in the movements thereof, a helical conducting strip secured to said base, a stationary conductor arranged adjacent the strip, means for feeding a tape between the two, and electrical connections, substantially as described.

5. In a recording device, the combination of a recording conductor, a conductor arranged adjacent thereto, means for feeding a tape between the two, a time perforating device, and electrical connections, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as myinvention I have signed my name, in pres ence of two witnesses, this 5th day of January, 189i. ments as applied to a recording ships coml CHARLES L. .IAEGE it.

Witnesses:

A. FABER DU Faun, Jr, Kilns II. Tnnnsrnnr. 

